(ABC 6 News) – During a Mason City city council meeting, MCPD chief Jeff Brinkley awarded four officers the Mason City Life Saving Awards on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.

Officers Jim Redeker and Josh Madole, and Sergeants Ben VanDenBroeke and Terrance Prochaska were credited with saving the life of Joey Sherman.

On May 17, 2023, after Sherman became trapped rolled over underneath farm equipment.

“You could see he was pinned underneath it looked like the steering wheel is what it looked like, and he had a like a bluish color on him, so we knew it was real serious and we had to figure out a way to get him out of there,” said Redeker.

According to a statement from MCPD, when officers had approached the tractor, Sherman stopped breathing. Three of the officers then lifted the tractor, yelling to bystanders to pull Sherman out from underneath.

“It was a little scary to be honest with you, you know. Somebody was that color and we didn’t the outcome or what was gonna happen,” said Redeker.

Once Sherman was safely out from under the tractor, Redeker administered CPR until the ambulance arrived, and he got a pulse back.

Sherman was then treated at MercyOne North Iowa and has now made a full recovery. The officers didn’t think Sherman would make it until they got a call from the hospital four days later.

“He turned his head and just started waving at us when we walked in the door, and it was kind of a surreal moment to see him smiling at us, and first thing he said was ‘thanks for saving my life,'” said Prochaska.

Sgt. Prochaska says he’s seen similar incidents in his career, but nothing like this.

“We were delighted to be there and be able to be recognized for something that we do day in and day out, this one just happened to stick with us a little bit more than the others,” said Prochaska.

The officers were proud to be able to help save a life, saying it feels good to do what they’re meant to do.

The responding officers all still stay in touch with Sherman and check in on his recovery, saying now he feels like family.